Good Sunday to you football fan and welcome to the final day of the Premier League.

For many of you, today marks a sad occasion as the season ends but for one team, it will be a day of the utmost happiness.

That team, if we are honest with ourselves, is likely to be Manchester City.

Magnificent in attack throughout the season (and just better than Liverpool in defence) they are the team that has spent less than two weeks at the top during the 2013-14 campaign but are surely destined to be celebrating come 5pm.

Of course, stranger things have happened. Call me boring, but today I don't think there will be too much strangeness.

Anyway, let's get going shall we?

2:10 pm

Ed Malyon

TEAM NEWS

Here we go then! Sergio Aguero is back for Manchester City, replacing James Milner in the hosts' only change.

For West Ham United, Joey O'Brien starts ahead of Guy Demel.

Full line-ups to follow, but predictably it is strong from Manuel Pellegrini as he looks to complete a double.

While easy to disregard it as facile trash talk, it's worth nothing that Manchester City are the team that the Geordie Centaur has scored the most goals against (5).

Surely he couldn't, could he?

2:47 pm

Ed Malyon

Well isn't this just splendid? Dunno if gloves and a hat are truly necessary at this time of the year but then again it is Manchester...

Getty

2:47 pm

Martin Lipton

Two years ago, the party was seconds away from falling horribly flat.

That seems to have coloured the mood of so many City fans. A fatalism, a sense of ''if it can go wrong, we'll find a way to make it go wrong'', still stalks around these parts.

But surely not, surely not today. One point, a draw, against a West Ham side with absolutely nothing to play for, a manager who is more likely to get a P45 than a congratulations card by the middle of the week and who they've already put 12 past in three games this season.

Keep up four goals per game average and City will break Chel'sea's 2009-10 Premier League of 103. Remember, Carlo Ancelotti's team put EIGHT past Wigan to win the title four years ago.

I don't expect eight, from a City side showing just one change from the team that took themselves to the brink of glory against Villa in midweek, Aguero in for Milner. But I do expect three or four.

As for West Ham, well, the final whistle can't come quickly enough. Seven Englishmen, though. Good news for Greg Dyke.......!

2:57 pm

Ed Malyon

They are emerging from the tunnel at the Etihad.

The roar is deafening as Manchester salutes the team that would be champions. That could be champions.

They are but a small step away, but one that nonetheless needs completing.

There is a tangible sense of expectation here at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester CIty prepare to come out for their title-deciding clash with West Ham.

A carnival-ty[e atmosphere has descended on this enclave of East Manchester, with bech balls bobbing between fans, and the home supporters here expect nothing but a win and a second title in three years.

City are often derided over their failure to sell out their stadium, but there are no empty seats as they await the defining moment of the season.

2:59 pm

David Anderson

Writing in the match programme, Vincent Kompany claims Manchester City will be deserved champions if they win.

"It's been a bigger challenge this season than it's ever been in my opinion and the team crowned as champions will fully deserve to have won it," he says.

He adds: "I know that if I were in the position of Liverpool, I wouldn't give up, so I can't for one second believe that they've completely given up and we have to keep that in mind."

3:00 pm

David McDonnell

The heavens have opened with the obligatory Manchester weather and City and West Ham strode out from the tunnel.

The two sides have shaken hands with the officials and with each other, City's players have embraced each other and now we will learn whether Manuel Pellegrini's side have the collective mental resolve to close out this title race for a second Premier League crown.

Blue Moon rings out, and we're underway!

3:03 pm

Ed Malyon

For kit fans, West Ham are wearing their third shirt and I, for one, have never seen it before.

Some sort of black concoction with red trimming and light blue or grey(?) shorts.

City start well with some possession but their first attack comes to nothing.

We're very much underway here and it's buzzing.

3:04 pm

David Anderson

It's party time at the Etihad - despite the rain.

The City fans erupt when Blues legend Gio Kinkladze is introduced on the pitch before kick-off.

Kinkladze is a reminder of the bad old days of relegation to the third tier and that is a world away for City now.

The supporters then belt out a rousing rendition of 'Blue Moon' as the game kicks off.

3:08 pm

Ed Malyon

AS IT STANDS, nothing has changed... but prepare to hear those words enunciated very dramatically on numerous occasions this afternoon.

City having ALL the ball in the opening eight minutes or so, and West Ham making sure they know they've got to make something special happen to earn a goal.

For all the talk of Carroll, he's not touched the ball yet I don't think!

3:10 pm

Martin Lipton

City as a club have changed hugely in recent years. But their fans haven't.

Amid the chants about Sheikh Mansour, going to Spain, in his Lamborghini (bet you can't guess what that rhymes with?), there are still a few inflatable bananas.

For those of more recent vintage, that's an 80s reference, to Imre Varadi (mis-heard, apparently, as Ray Bananas). Back when City were, well, City!

The rain which teemed down at the start has slackened off. City probing, although penalty appeals when Dzeko's driven cross slams into Noble more than slightly optimistic.

3:12 pm

Ed Malyon

First proper chance for Manchester City as David Silva volleys a cross well over the bar.

The build-up was good from Argie pair Pablo Zabaleta and Sergio Aguero as the forward sent his compatriot to the byline with a clever one-two, but despite the cross beating everyone and finding the unmarked Silva, it's nowhere near the target.

Width, and those full-backs getting forward, will prove crucial in City unlocking these massed ranks of West Ham defenders.

3:15 pm

David Anderson

As expected, the game immediately becomes like a training drill of attack versus defence. And no prizes for guessing which side is doing which.

West Ham, playing 4-5-1 with Andy Carroll up top, are soon creaking and James Tomkins makes a vital clearance.

City's pressure is relentless and, as Ed described, David Silva volleys over at the back post from Pablo Zabaleta's right-wing cross.

Kevin Nolan, the boyhood Red who would love to see Liverpool win the title, blazes well over on his own rare incursion into the City half.

3:18 pm

Ed Malyon

West Ham genuinely don't appear interested in scoring a goal here, which is particularly bad news for Liverpool.

Carroll tries to lead an attack for them but the support is so slow in arriving that there seems no obvious way for them to break through.

On days like today, a pacy winger or forward would make a huge difference to the Hammers' (remote) chances.

3:21 pm

Ed Malyon

There is a GOAL... at ANFIELD! Liverpool have gone 1-0 down to Newcastle United.

Martin Skrtel shins it past his own keeper from a left-wing cross and it's already sounding like party time at the Etihad.

Yet still they pour forward, and Yaya Toure curls one wide from 25 yards.

City are patient, and they know now they are in a better position than ever.